Detector



J. J. GRAF July 9, 1935.

DETECTOR Filed OCt. 19,` 1935 INVENTOR. J. J. GQAF, WM .am 09m ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 9, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to a functionally and structurally improved signaling or detecting device. l f

Itis an object of the invention to provide an 5 apparatus of this character which, while'capable of use in numerous different associations, is primarily intended for association with a railroad right of way,` and by means of which damaged or defective, or improperlypositioned units of the 1o rolling stock will be detected, and moreover, by means of which a signal will be given in response to such detection so that the condition may be remedied before an accident occurs.

A further object of the invention is that of providing an apparatus of this character in which'a train crew must take cognizance ofsuch a signal indication. In" other words, while 'the apparatus itself may include mechanisms which will 'of itself bring the train to a halt, it will at least be'necessary, according to a preferred form ofthe invention, that the train crew shall bring the train to a halt in order to reset the signal mechanism, thus acknowledging that such crew is'cognizant of the existence of a defective or damaged part.

A` still further object of the invention is that of providing an apparatus of this character, the parts 'of which will be relatively few in number and rugged kin construction, these parts being capable of ready assemblage andA of application to a right of way and to existing signaling mechanism, such installation being capable of being made by relatively unskilled labor and when made remaining in position without the need of replacement for an indefinite period of time, or untila signal indication is given.

With these and other objects in mind, reference is had to the attached sheet of drawings, showing one practical embodiment of the invention'and in which:

vFigure l is a view showing schematically the apparatus applied to a railroad or street car right of way; and

Figure 2 is a perspective View of one of the apparatus units.

`Referring primarily to Figure l, it will be seen that the reference numeral 5 indicates rails and 6 a more or less conventional signal apparatus positioned adjacent the right of way. Assol ciated with this signal apparatus is a special signal indicator at I and which may take the form of an illuminated unit or any other form of indicator, and which,fwhen operative or energized will readily attract the attention of the vengineer or motorman.

(Cl. 246-246)V With a view to operating this signal, a separate battery 8, or other source of electrical current supply may be provided. The signal is arranged in series with this source and the circuit is normally interrupted by providing a switch 5 arm 9 which, under ordinary conditions, is in open position. The switch arm may of course be manually operated, but in addition it should be automatically operable in any one or a number of dilerent ,manners A preferred form of l0 mechanismembraces the provision ci a relay of which the switch arm 9 forms a part. This re lay mayinclude a solenoid I0 cooperable with an armature I I. The solenoid is normally maintained in energized position by having its Wind- 15 ings arranged in series with a source of electrical current supply I2, the armature il and one pole of the source l2 being, if desired, grounded as at I3.

Y Thus, it is obvious that under normal condi- 2o tions, and according to the present embodiment of the invention, the armature I I is maintained in attracted condition so that the circuit through the solenoid I0 is uninterrupted. Consequently the signal I is normally deenergized. 25

If, however, the flow ofcurrent from the source I2 is interrupted, the armature II, together with the switch arm 9 connected thereto will, under the iniiuence of gravityfor under the urgings of a spring V(not shown) be moved to a position 30 where the signal will be energized and maintained in energized condition. Moreover, even if the interruption of the circuit through the electromagnet II is cured, this will have no effect on the condition of the parts for the reason 35 that when the armature I I once shifts, a manual or other actuation is necessary to bring the armature II into contact with the lead so that the solenoid may again 'be energized. Stated otherwise, if the signal T is energized then, ac- 40 cording to the present embodiment of the invention, it will be necessary for the motorman or engineer to bring the train or car to a halt and to manually reset the relay, thus acknowledging his awareness of a dangerous condition, 45 as will be hereinafter apparent. It is of course obvious that instead of merely energizing the signal I, various other or additional mechanisms might be utilized to, for example, in well known manners bring the train to a halt, actuate an engineers cab signal, etc.

Interposed between the source I2 and the relay is a contact unit which may include a vertical member I4 within which there is embedded a conductor I5, the ends of which are connected deflect any member moving along the right of way and striking against such apron. The member i4 may be formed of any substance capable of withstanding ordinary contact and protecting the embedded conductor i5 from exposure to the elements, but at Vthe same time fragile-enough to be destroyed or injured if it is struck a violent blow. With this in mind, wood maybe utilized, the plank being suitably bored Vto receiveV the conductor.

it will thus be obvious that the member is suii'iciently rugged to withstand casual contact with tools or men engaged in ordinary work,V

or traversing the right of way. However, anything which will hang or Ydrag from a Vpassing car or locomotive, and which will have sunicient weight to endanger the train or the road bed, will break the vertical member I4. Whether a momentary grounding or an actual breakage of the conductor occurs will be immaterial for the reason that in any event the circuit through the electromagnet will be either temporarily orf permanently interrupted, and the armature Il will move as aforedescribed and the signal 'l will be energized.

Thus, it will be obvious that if a train has a broken truck or a wheel, or has any equipment loose or dragging, -the signal will function,

and even if the circuit through the electromagnet hasrnotA been permanently impaired, the train crew will have to acknowledge the dangerous condition which exists by bringing VVthe train to a stop and resetting the relay. Of course, where the conductor I5 has actually been broken,'or

in other words torn apart, the unit, as viewed in Figure 2 will have to be completely replaced;- The apron i8 will function to deflect sticks andl other dbris which may extend below the hoppers. It will also similarly deflect air and steam hose couplings if these are not properly secured. Thus, only in the event of dangerous conditions will the signal 'l' operate so that trains may not be unnecessarilybrcught to a halt.

In conclusion it will be appreciated that the teachings of the present invention areas afore brought out-not necessarily limited'to freight and passenger right of ways, but might be applied with facility to existing or proposed-conveyors, and in fact in every installation where objects are supposed to be moving along a given path and where a dangerous condition might result when various objects or parts associated therewith extend beyond lsuch path. The claims. therefore, are to be interpreted accordingly. v

As afore brought out, 'numerous changes in construction and rearrangements or the parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. AA detector to be disposed adjacent the right of way of vehicles and including a mounting member and means supported by said member and extending adjacent the path of travel of a vehicle and in a plane to one side of the Vehicle body, whereby an object associated with said vehicle and extending beyond the normal path of travel thereof will destructively engage said means and means for deecting casual objects away from said destructible means.

2. An apparatus of the character described including an electrical conductor to be connected in series with a signalling means and source of electrical current supply, and means for mounting said conductor adjacent the right; of way of vehicles and to one side of the normal path of travel of the bodies thereof, whereby a portion of a vehicle body extending to one side of said `normal path of travel will engage said conductor travel of the bodies thereof, whereby said hous` ing member will beV engaged by any vehicle portion extending beyond the normal path of travel of a vehicle and will be shattered, said signalling means operating in response to theY consequent grounding or severing of said conductor.

4L An apparatus of the characterdescribed, including anv electrical conductor to be'connected in series with a signalling means and source of electrical currentV supply,v means for mounting said conductor adjacent the right of way of vehicles-and to one side ofthe normal path ofY travel of the bodies thereof,.whereby said housing member will be engaged by any vehicle portion extending beyond the normal path of travel of a vehicle and will be shattered, said signalling means operating in response tothe consequent grounding or severing of said conductor and means disposed in advance of said housing member to dei-lect cas'- ual Vobjects from the saine.

5. .An apparatus of the character described in-' cluding an electrical conductor to be connected in series with a signalling means and source of electricalY current supply, means for mounting said conductor adjacent the right of wayiof vehiclesand toV one side of the normal path'of vtravel of the bodies thereof, whereby said housing member will be engaged by any vehicle portion extendmg beyond the normal path of travel of a vehicle and will be shattered, said signalling means operating in response to the consequent grounding or severing of said conductor and means wherebyv said 4signal may again be rendered inoperative.v

6. An apparatus of the character described including a detector member to be disposed adjacent a vehicle path and to be destructively Vengaged by a vehicle having portions of its body extending to one side of said path, a relay electrically connected to said detectorl and `functioning in response to a destructive contact between thev same and a vehicle portion and a signal operating inresponse to a functioning of the latter. Y

'7. An apparatus of the character described including a detector member to be disposed adjacent a vehicle path and to be destructively engaged by a vehicle having portions of its body extending to one side of said path, a relay electrically connected to said detector and functioning in response to a destructive contact between the same and a vehicle portion, a normally inoperative signal and means connecting said signal to said relay to render the former operative in response to a functioning of the latter.

8. An apparatus of the character described including a detector member to be disposed adjacent a vehicle path and to be destructively engaged by a vehicle having portions of its body extending to one side of said path, a relay electrically connected to said detector and functioning in response to a destructive contact between the same and a Vehicle portion, a normally inoperative signal, means connecting said signal to said relay to render the former operative in response to a functioning of the latter and said relay being manually resettable to deenergize said signal.

9. A detector to be disposed between the rails of a railroad right of way and within the space normally cleared by the under side and associated parts of traflic units traversing such rails, said detector including a mounting member lying between such rails, and signal controlling means associated with said member whereby a portion of one of such traffic units which extends improperly beyond the under side of the same will destructively engage said mounting member to cause a functioning of said signal controlling means.

10. A detector to be disposed between the rails of a railroad right of way and within the space normally cleared by the under side and associated parts of traic units traversing such rails, said detector including a mounting member lying between such rails, signal controlling means associated with said member whereby a portion of one of such traic units which extends improperly beyond the under side of the same will destructively engage said mounting member to cause a functioning of said signal controlling means, a signal connected to said controlling means and responding to a functioning of the same, and means for manually resetting said signal subsequent to such functioning.

JOSEPH J. GRAF. 

